Coughing serves an important purpose — to help you expel mucus, microbes and other foreign particles from your respiratory tract. This helps protect the lungs from infection and inflammation, Harvard Medical School says. A cough becomes chronic if it lingers for at least three to eight weeks, the school adds. Its list of reasons for… read on >
While a fever generally is not something to be overly concerned about, some cases require a doctor’s intervention, the Nemours Foundation says. Triggers of may fever include an infection, overdressing (particularly newborns) and immunizations. A high fever should be treated without delay to prevent discomfort and possible dehydration, Nemours says. If — despite a fever… read on >
It’s a scene played out in many homes across America — parents place their baby on a bed or sofa, thinking the child is safe while Mom or Dad slips away for a few moments. But new research finds that falls from beds and sofas pose a greater risk to children than many parents believe.… read on >
Good sleep helps speed young athletes recover from a concussion, a new study reports. The study included 356 athletes from Texas, age 19 and younger, who suffered a sports-related concussion. At their first clinic visit, 73 percent of the athletes had good sleep quality and 27 percent had poor sleep quality. Those with good sleep… read on >
You’ve made the decision to meet the 150-minutes-per-week goal of cardio workouts for better health. Now use these tips to make the most of these workouts. If you’re using a machine, like a treadmill or stationary bike, check that you’re maintaining proper form. Just as coasting when riding a bike outdoors doesn’t provide a workout,… read on >
Children face an increased risk for sleep problems if a parent suffers a serious injury, especially if the parent has a brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a new study reveals. Researchers used U.S. Military Health System records to identify more than 485,000 children of more than 272,000 parents who were seriously injured in… read on >
An “alarming” number of American parents save unused antibiotics and give them to family members and other people, a new study finds. This type of misuse helps fuel antibiotic resistance, the study authors said. Their report is scheduled for presentation Monday in Orlando, Fla., at the national conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).… read on >
Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) has become the standard of care in screening for cervical cancer. But now, Canadian researchers say it may become unnecessary in women aged 55 or older who have one negative result with the test. The DNA-based HPV test is highly accurate in detecting 14 high-risk strains of the virus that… read on >
Kids are safer in states with strict gun laws, a new preliminary study reports. Researchers found that the stringency of a state’s firearm legislation has a direct impact on the number of kids killed by guns. Twice as many child gun deaths occur in states with the most lenient gun regulation, compared with states where… read on >
Obese kids may have extra difficulty with schoolwork and coping under stress, a preliminary study suggests. In a survey of nearly 23,000 parents, researchers found that kids who were obese were less likely to show certain indicators of “flourishing,” versus their normal-weight peers. That meant less engagement in schoolwork and learning, and more difficulty coping… read on >
